Making the most out of a 50 1.2?

[LukieLauXD]

Our family finally entered the world of L primes for Christmas and I was wondering how we can make the most out of a 50mm 1.2?

I used it on my Dad's 1Ds3 yesterday and took a picture of the darkest part of our house and when we saw it, tears were shed at its awesomeness.

[bdunbar79]

It's a great lens on a great body like the 1Ds 3.  If you want to take full advantage, do an AFMA adjustment and use it primarily between f/1.2 and f/2 or f/2.8.  That's it's absolute sharpest range.  If you go narrower, there are other sharper lenses.  Good luck!  Glad you got a great Xmas present!

[Zlatko]

+1.  Do what bdunbar79 wrote.  Enjoy!

[EOBeav]

+1.  Do what bdunbar79 wrote.  Enjoy!

Yeah, if you've got a 50L, take full advantage of it at wide apertures. And thank the Lord in Heaven that you have such awesome glass.

[jp121]

Bought one yesterday. Loving it already.

[Viggo]

To really make it useful, forget about every bad thing you've heard and shoot like any other lens. Yes it is pretty soft if you use it closer than 1 meter from subject, but I don't care, because the look and feel of closeup portraits for example is simply fantastic. Enjoy and congrats!

[drjlo]

The more I use the 50L for portraits, the more I am appreciating its slightly more "human" rendering of sharpness.  Most of us non-models without full make-up are shown in a more glowing and forgiving light IMO compared to other bitingly sharp lenses.

[Albi86]

Our family finally entered the world of L primes for Christmas and I was wondering how we can make the most out of a 50mm 1.2?

I used it on my Dad's 1Ds3 yesterday and took a picture of the darkest part of our house and when we saw it, tears were shed at its awesomeness.

Use it at f/1.2, this is what you bought it for

[Dylan777]

AFMA is almost required for this lens. I tried 4 brand new copies from Crutchfield. All 4 copies have back focus issue. I ran all 4 copies through FoCal at f1.2. Out of 4, there is only one lens has sharpness above 800 with FoCal. Others 3 just around 760-780ish. I ended up keeping the sharpest lens and returned the remaining.

I also ran this lens @ f1.4, 1.8, 2, 2.8, 3.2 and f4. I wrote down the AFMA values on small a note and taped it to the lens hood. I'm not sure if I ever need to stop down to f4 on f1.2 lens, but the datas are there if I ever need it.

Below is my 1st shot after AFMA @ f1.2   

[Dylan777]

It's a great lens on a great body like the 1Ds 3.  If you want to take full advantage, do an AFMA adjustment and use it primarily between f/1.2 and f/2 or f/2.8.  That's it's absolute sharpest range.  If you go narrower, there are other sharper lenses.  Good luck!  Glad you got a great Xmas present!

@ f2.8 the new 24-70 f2.8 II is sharper than 50L at 50mm. I'm based on my copies (24-70 II and 50L)

[Viggo]

Yes, but how sharp 'p your 2470@ 1.2?

And actually, the sharpest aperture of the 50 L is around 5.0-5.6.

[Dylan777]

Yes, but how sharp 'p your 2470@ 1.2?

And actually, the sharpest aperture of the 50 L is around 5.0-5.6.

You right.  However, my 50L showed no sharpness from 24 to 70mm, except @ 50mm

[bdunbar79]

Yes, but how sharp 'p your 2470@ 1.2?

And actually, the sharpest aperture of the 50 L is around 5.0-5.6.

If that's true, then that's really disappointing considering the cost.

[Zlatko]

Yes, but how sharp 'p your 2470@ 1.2?

And actually, the sharpest aperture of the 50 L is around 5.0-5.6.

If that's true, then that's really disappointing considering the cost.

Considering the cost (~ $1,300), it is a fabulous lens.  It is plenty sharp around f/2 and draws very, very beautifully -- which is its main selling point.  There is no need to stop it down, except for more depth of field.  Canon could have included a floating element to address a slight focus shift when stopping down, but then people would freak out even more about the price.

If you want a better fast 50mm, you have to spend $4,000 for a Leica 50/1.4 or $11,000 for a Leica 50/0.95, and at least $5,450 for a camera body on which to mount it.

[Kamakalele]

Our family finally entered the world of L primes for Christmas and I was wondering how we can make the most out of a 50mm 1.2?

I used it on my Dad's 1Ds3 yesterday and took a picture of the darkest part of our house and when we saw it, tears were shed at its awesomeness.

Iv'e used it on my 5D Mk II and love it.  I do not know much about photography but I know that the pictures I take with it make my friends say "WOW".  I love the lens but miss it as I have been lending it to a young teen of a friend, who is interested in photography.  The pictures I've taken with it blow me away.  I don't know crap about IS or CA but the pictures I take of my daughter with this lens, I LOVE!!!!  Have fun with this lens.  This lens and my EF 135 f2L are my go to lenses that I keep on my 5D MkIII now, 99% of the time.  Go BIG or go home....in f stop anyway.